Ian Rigg reports from The Recreation Ground

The Lions withstood a first half scare to pull off victory in the second.

The Lions had the first chance in the fifth minute when Richie Hawkyard kicked for the corner but the rolling ball was too strong for Gary Sykes.

Hornets hit back a minute later with a good break down the left from Ryan Amor and he hacked forward with Andrew Hocking in hot pursuit but Chris Hull just won the race for the line to hack it dead in goal.

Another chance came to Fran King when he made a break down the right but Neil Rigby was on-hand to stop the danger.

King though did put Hornets ahead in the fourteenth minute when he went over on the right after a good pass from Dave Pettitt but Craig Johnstone could not convert.

Three minutes later they went further ahead when Johnstone added a penalty for holding down putting the amateurs 6-0 in the lead.

Wath Brow were looking the pro-outfit at this stage and Darren Bamford, who was chosen ahead of Wayne English for this match, had to pull-off a super tackle on Gavin Curwen on twenty minutes when he looked an all-out scorer.

A few minutes later the Lions gave away another penalty this time for a high tackle and Johnstone again converted.

Hornets scored their second try on twenty-three minutes when a high kick to the corner was floated and Amor rose higher than Andy Saywell to score in the corner but Johnstone missed his second conversion.

Two minutes later Hornets went further ahead when the referee who was giving out penalties like kebab leaflets awarded Johnstone a simple shot at goal when the Lions were done for obstruction.

Swinton finally got into the match ten minutes from the break when Bamford and Sykes combined down the left to send Marlon Billy over at the corner but Hawkyard’s attempt at goal was to be his only failed conversion of the day.

Paul Kidd gave his side a stiff talking too at the break and they responded within the first five minutes when Martin Moana and Gary Hulse combined to send Bamford racing away to score under the posts and Hawkyard converted.

Phil Wood almost got Moana away in the fifty-first minute but he could not control the pass but four minutes later Wood put the Lions ahead. Rob Line went close and Wood darted over from the play the ball with Hawkyard again adding the extras.

Two minutes later the Lions were in again as Hornets were now starting to show signs of fatigue and Moana made a telling break for Bamford to race in for his second and again Hawkyard converted.

Saywell made a good break down the right on sixty-seven minutes and with five players to one on the attack he switched it inside for Hull to race away and score under the posts and Hawkyard goaled again.

Billy added his second eleven minutes from time when Hull put him away with Hawkyard goaling his fifth successive conversion of the second-half.

The final try came six minutes from time when Craig Ashall and Hull combined down the right to send Hawkyard racing away under the posts and he duly added the goal points to secure the victory and the Lions passage into the next round.